Branding sheet



June 16, 1953 Filed March 22. 1950 w. P. DONALD 2,641,998

BRANDING SHEET- 4 Sheet's-Sheet l INVENTOR w. vP. DONALD BRANDING SHEET June 16, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 195o June 16, 1953 1 P, DONALD 2,641,998

BRANDING SHEET Filed March 22. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fig.

INVENTOR June 16, 1953 w, P, poNALD 2,641,998

BRANDING SHEET Filed March 22, 1950 y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR l/I///iam R Dona/d be uniform in all respects. Y tomary to brand sheets by hand, that is, by hav- Patented June 16,1953

gufi" OFFICE BRANDING SHEET William P. Donald, Cleveland, Ohio, assignorv to Wean Equipment Corporation, Euclid, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application March 22, 1950, Serial No. 151,184

4 Claims.

This invention relates to branding sheets. It has to do particularly with apparatus for branding sheets advancing sequentially toa branding station. f

I have developed the invention in connection with the branding of sheets delivered sequentially from acontinuous strip galvanizing line. In such a line the strip, ordinarily steel strip, is continuously galvanized and after being galvanized is cut into .sheets which are delivered or advanced one after another. It is desirable for the manufacturer to apply his brand or trademark to each individual sheet. The brand should be applied uniformlyto all sheets, i. e., at the same position, with the same orientation and with the same force so that the brands vvill It hasrbeen cusing'a workman with a branding stamp. press' the stamp against each sheet. Such a procedure is costly because of the labor involved .and also because it introduces a time bottleneck in the'opy eration and'may result in otherwise Yunnecessary slowdown. Moreover, the human equation cannot be eliminated, the result A,being v'that the brands are not uniformly applied to all sheets.

By use of my invention I can brand sheets rapidly, eiiiciently and uniformly. `The branding is done mechanicallyand the human equation is eliminated. The brand Vis 4'applied to all sheets uniformly asto position, orientation and force of impression. The sheets are branded as they -advance sequentially after having been sheared from the continuous galvanized strip'. While, as will appear in relation to oneY feature of my invention, I preferably utilize the light reecting character of galvanized sheets inthe actuation of the brander, the invention is not limited to the branding of galvanied sheets. It is applicable in all respects to the branding of any `sheets having substantial light reflecting characteristics. In certain aspects the invention is applicable to the branding of' any sheets Whether or not theyhave light reectingjcharacteristics. I use the term sheet a's`a wordof broad definition and not of limitation; it is intended to comprehend any articles' having sur,-V

faces adapted to receive a brand, the articles having in* that respect theV characteristics of sheets. I also use the term .brand as a term of broad definition and not of limitation; it comprehends any marking, trade-mark or otherwise, which it may be desired toapply to the sheets. Purely for purposes of explanation .and illustration I shall describe the invention in con- (Cl. lOl-235) nection with its embodiment in apparatus for sequentially branding galvanized sheets moving to a branding station one after the other.

In a modern continuous steel strip galvanizing line the strip moves continuously through a galvanizing station where it is galvanized, and the strip is continuously delivered from the galyanizing stationand cut into sheets. The sheets may be advanced sequentially to a branding station where they are acted on by my branding apparatus. I preferably employ a branding device positioned to brand each sheet as the sheets advance one after the other, the branding preferably being accomplished while the sheets are moving and without appreciably'slowing them down or in any way `aiecting their advance. I

preferably employ control means for the branding device which is actuated by each sheet as it approaches the branding station. I preferably provide a power source and the control means preferably acts .to connect the branding device to the power .source to effect the branding of a sheet. The mechanism is desirably such .that after a single cycle of operation to apply one brand to'each sheet it returns to its initial condition ready for the succeeding cycle. The connection between the power sourceand the branding device may be a single revolution driver such as a single revolution clutch. The branding device may be a rotary brandingdevice positioned to brand the sheet at the branding station upon being driven through one revolution.

The power source may becontinuously operated independently of the sheets although I find it expedient to employ as a power source a wheel which is engaged by the sheets as they move along, the sheets causing the wheel to turn. While the sheets may be advanced on any suitable guideway or conveyor I nnd it desirable for various reasons to employ a moving conveyor uponwhich the sheetsfare disposed, as, for example, an endless belt conveyor. When such a conveyor is employed the wheel which serves as the power source is driven continuously.k When it is in contact with a sheet lying on the conveyor itis driven by the sheet. It contacts the conveyor between the trailing edge vof each sheet and the leading edge of the succeeding sheet. The power` wheel and the rotary branding device may be mounted side by side in coaxial relationship. The single revolution drive is mounted in relation to the power Wheel or driving roll and the rotary branding device or branding roll so as to be actuable to connect the branding roll to the driving roll to cause the branding roll to turn through fof the conveyor 2 along the Ahorizontal bars V5. A screw' 8 is journaled in the tops of the standards 4 andv is adapted to befturned by a handwheel'S. The brander frame `Eiixedly carries a nut I0 into which the screw 8 is threaded. Thus upon turning of the handwheelv 9 and'consequent rotation of the screw 8 the branderwill be moved longitudinally oi the bars 5. The transverse position of the brander relatively to the conveyor 2 and hence relatively to the sheets onv the conveyor Vis adjusted by operation of the screw 8.

The brander frame B carries a transverse shaft I I which in turn carries for swinging movement in a vertical plane parallel to the length o-f the conveyor 2 a bracket I2. A pivoted ypressure cylinder I3 is pivoted to the branderframe 6 at I4 and contains a piston having a piston rod I5 pivoted to the bracket I2 at I6. By operation of the piston in the cylinder I 3 the bracket I 2 swings about thel axis of the shaft II between a lower operative position as shown in the drawings andI an upper inoperative position in which the brander is withdrawn' so that it cannot act on.

sheets advancing on the conveyor 2.

Journaled in the brackett I2r is a shaft I1 to which is keyed a branding wheel I8. The branding wheel I8 carries at a lportion of its periphery a branding stamp adapted when the branding wheel I8 rotates while in operative position to brand a sheet moving past the branding station B on the conveyor 2. As a power source for operating the brander I provide a rubber tired wheelv I9 mounted for free rotation on the shaft I'I. I provide a single revolution clutch operable between the driving wheel I9 and the branding wheel I8. The driving section` of the single revolution clutch is carried by the driving wheel I9.

hence always rotates with the branding roll I8. The sections 20 and 2I .of the single revolution clutch are normally disengaged from each other so that the wheel I 9 may ride upon thejconveyor 2 and the sheets disposed thereupon (one of the sheets is designated 22 in the drawings) whereby the wheel I9 is in effect continuously driven. It turns freely on the shaft I'I which does not rotate except during operation of the branding wheel I8.

There is provideda pawl 23 normally actuated by a tension coil spring 23a into engagement with a rotary cam 23h carried by the driven vsectionze of the-single revoiunon clutch, the Cam 23o having a single cam step 23e in the path of e which the pawl 23 lies during Yrotation of the cam. Whenlthe pawl 23 lies against the cam step 23e the single revolution clutch ismaintained inoperative but whenl the pawlis mo mentarily withdrawn the single revolution'clutch operates to turn the branding wheel I8 with the driving vwheel I9 through a single revolution. During that revolution the spring 23a returns the lpawl 23 into contactwith the cam 23h so The driven section 2I of the singley revolution clutch is keyed to the shaft I1 and that at the end of the revolution the cam step 23a engages the pawl and stops; Since, as explained above, the single revolution clutch is a well known device its detailed mechanism need not be explained. I have found that a friction drag brake (not shown) may, if desired, be applied to advantage to the shaft I'I. VThere may at times be a tendency of the branding wheel I8 which is keyed to the shaft I'I to oscillate when turning of the branding wheel lis stopped by the single revolution clutch; such tendency is counteracted or the oscillation damped by the friction drag brake. .j

The' light source above referred to is designated 24 and is carried by they brander frame 5. It casts a beam of light generally downwardly '25 may be a photoelectric cell or so-called electric eye. It receives light from the light source Y24 lreflected by each sheet as it intercepts the beam of light.

The pawl 23 is actuated to inoperative position against the action of its spring 23a by a solenoid 2'6 which is energized by a circuit which is closed by the electric eye 25 when. light is reflectedto it from the light source 24. VA time delay device which may be of conventional construction 'and which may be adjusted to vary the extent of time delay is interposed 'between the electric eye 25 and the `solenoid 26 so that the solenoid 215 is operated at a predetermined time. after operation of the electric eye. This means that the pawl 23 is rendered inoperative at a predetermined time after operation of the electric eye and hence that the time of commencement of rotation of the branding wheel I8 may be accurately determined. In this way the exact positioning of the brand at a desired distance from the leading edge of thesheet may be determined. Ordinarily the conveyor 2 operates at constant speed but if the speed of the conveyor 2 is changed the adjustment ofthe time delay device" should be correspondingly changed to insure continuing of vapplication of the brand at the same relative spot on each sheet.` The circuit also 'is suchl that the solenoid 2-6 is operated only once for each sheetl andY cannot be operated again until the trailing edge of the sheet has passed beyond the light beam Yand the leading edge of the succeeding sheet has intercepted the light beam.

The branding stamp is positioned on the branding wheel I 8 so that it is pressed against thesurface of the sheet upon rotation of the branding Wheel. An inking roller 21 is provided for inking the branding stamp upon each operation ofthe branding wheel.

` When the brander is raised to inoperative position by admitting iiuid to the right of the piston in the cylinder I3 viewing Figures 2 and 4' 7 dinarily the mass of, the brander is suiilcient to insure yadequate pressure of the branding stamp but it can be enhanced if desiredxinthe manner just explained.

I shall describe the operation of the brander in branding 1a sheet advancing to the branding station B on the conveyor 2. Prior to interception by the leading portion of the sheet of the light beam from the light source 24 the light beam is not reflected into the electric eye 25. As the leading edge of a sheet intercepts the light beam it reflects light into the electric eye 25 resulting in closing through the time delay device of the circuit energizing the solenoid 25 for rendering inoperative the pawl 23. Since the Wheel i9 is turning continuously through contact with the sheets and the conveyor shaft i1 and the branding wheel I8 are rotatively connected with the wheel is by the single revolution clutch and turn with the wheel AI9 to rappl-y the brand to the sheet. At the end of .a single revolution the pawl stops the turning of the branding wheel i2 by .disengaging the clutch as above described; this occurs after the branding wheel has applied a single brand to the sheet. The continued reflecting of light fromthe light source 2d into the electric eye 25 `as the trailing portieriA of the sheet passes through the light beam has'no eiect on the brander. After the trailing portion of the sheet has moved beyond the light beam .light is no longer reflected into the electric eye 25 and the brander is ready for repetition of the cycle as soon as the leading edge of the succeeding sheet intercepts the light beam to reiiect light into the electric eye 25.

Referring `now to the circuit diagram Figure current is supplied through line terminals 39 and 4@ .from any suitable source of power; for example, the current may be ll-G volt, 60 cycle, alternating current.. Manually operable switch elements di and fuses i2 may be provided in accordance with the usual practice. The limit switch 29 vabove referred to is shown in Figure ve and when the mechanism is to be used the switch elements di and the limit switch 29 must be closed.

When light :from the light source 24 is reflected Vinto 'the electric eye 25 the latter closes contacts 36, energizing coil 3l which after a predetermn'leddelay depending upon its setting closes contacts 32. Closing of contacts 32 -energizes coil 33 which closes contacts 3,4 and energizes solenoid 25. Energizing of solenoid 25 -retracts the pawl 2.3 Aas above explained. The

result of retraction of the pawl is that the single revolution clutch operates, turning the branding ywheel I8 through a single revolution to apply a brand to a sheet.

To malte certain that the solenoid 26 will deenergize before the branding roll I8 has completed its single revolution cycle timing relay 36 deenergizes coil 33 during the single revolution of the branding roll thus insuring return of the pawl 23 under the action of its spring `sheet has passed contacts-.30 -openand in turn c.ontact s. 32 open, thus resetting the system for thenextcycle. y There is provided a selector switch 31 which in the position shown -in Figure provides for `automatic operation asabove described..v AIf the selector switch 3'! isV thrown to its. lower position viewing Figure -6 the mechanism-will not operate automatically but may be operated manually through a push button switch 38.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not `limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims. I

I claim:

l. A sheet brander comprising means valong which sheets are advanced, said means having a surf-ace over which sheets being advancedare adapted to be `disposed which is 'relatively light absorbing, alight shining on said surface, .a turnable branding device and means includingy light sensitive means receiving light reected from asheet disposed over said surface turning the branding device tobrand the sheet.

2. A sheet brander/comprising means along which sheets are advanced, said means having 'a surface over which sheets being advanced are adapted to be disposed which is relatively iight absorbing, 1a light source disposed to cast light on said surface, a branding device and means including iight sensitive means receiving Ylight `from said source reflected from an advancing sheet operating the branding device to move from the sheets and connecting means actuated by the light sensitive means connecting the power source and the branding device so that the power source rotates the branding device to brand a sheet.

4. A sheet brander comprising a wheel engaging advancing sheet to be turned thereby. a branding wheel positioned to brandv the advancing sheets when the branding wheel .is turned, a light lsource Ydisposed to cast light on the path of Vthe advancing sheets, 'light sensitive means 'positioned to receive light reected from the sheets and connecting means including a single :revolution driver actuated by the light sensitive means connecting the iirst mentioned wheel and the branding wheel so that .the branding wheel turns with the rst mentioned wheel `through a single revolution to brand a sheet.

WILLIAM P. DONALD.

. lReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,290,509 Chandler Jan. 7, 19'1'9 1,987,816 Bowman Jan. 15, 1935 2,369,290 Foard Feb. 13, 1945 2,405,879 Fredricksen Aug. 13, `1946 

